Hello friends!
This time I am going to tell you the story of Finnish tree spirits.
Enjoy!
Chapter 7.
Symbols,
Plants and animals.
Sacred Rose In Finland,
Trees have been revered and worshipped since the beginning of time.
For the forest hold a far greater significance to the people's way of life than it does today.
It was a source of berries,
Herbs,
Eggs,
Game and timber.
The forest represented both good and bad,
The threat of wild beasts,
Poisonous plants,
And the danger of getting lost was very real.
Thus,
While the forest was worshipped,
It also needed to be appeased from time to time.
Sacred Rose were small,
Often marked or fenced off,
Wooded areas dedicated to the gods.
Places of Offerings These groves were called lehtru and hiisi.
In these groves,
Food and valuables were offered to the gods and goddesses,
To keep them benevolent.
In the sacred grove,
The human soul was believed to unite with nature,
Much as it would in the heart of the forest.
Within these groves,
There was usually an altar,
A sacrificial enclosure,
Or some form of divine image.
A grove dedicated for Vellamo or specific water spirits,
Were close to the altar,
Such as a lake or a spring.
Possibly a little tree covered area by the shore.
Spirit Trees The spirit tree grew on the property owned by the family.
It was believed that the spirit residing in the tree watched over the house,
The farm and the family,
And was intimately connected to the well-being of people,
The crops and the animals.
Each tree had its own spirit,
A puuhaltia or puuolento.
A tree being that resided within the tree.
In some places,
It was also believed that the spirit tree lived in the shade of the tree.
When the puuhaltia,
The spirit tree,
Was worshipped,
The spirit of the tree was revered,
Ensuring its favor and protection.
Furthermore,
In homes that kept livestock,
The animals might have had a special place at the roots of the sacred tree.
Commonly,
There would be stone piles for the pet snake or leaf piles for the hedgehog.
The spirit tree was also equated with the world tree,
A tree that was believed to connect both the upper and lower worlds,
Through its branches and roots.
It was considered especially fortunate if animals or birds made their homes on the branches of the sacred tree,
As these branches symbolized the middle world.
Typically,
A spirit tree was a deciduous tree,
Like the world tree.
Two though coniferous trees were not uncommon.
The spirit tree was usually a tree that had been deliberately planted for the purpose of this spiritual connection.
When a house was to be built,
A suitable sapling from the cleared land was selected and planted in a place within the yard,
Where it could grow into its role as the spirit tree.
Spirit tree was regularly honored throughout the year with food and drink offerings,
As well as gifts.
Offerings were especially made during significant celebrations and before major annual tasks,
Such as the sowing of crops,
The harvest,
The grazing of livestock,
Or before life-changing events like marriage or funerals.
The offerings and sacrifices were placed at the tree's roots or trunk,
Or hung on its branches,
Depending on what aspect of life needed healing or what was being celebrated.
Popular food offerings included alcohol,
Beer,
Grains,
Salt,
Bread,
Porridge,
And cheese,
Often served in specially made baskets.
Superstitions Trees in dreams are usually good omens.
If you climb a tree in a dream,
It signifies that you will succeed in your endeavors.
A fallen tree indicates a changing situation.
Planting a tree in a dream,
On the other hand,
Symbolizes marriage or the birth of children.
The tree listened and understood the troubles of people,
Especially the women of the household,
Better than any other.
If you counter three trees in a straight line in the forest,
The spirit of those trees resides beneath the last one.
If you perform any spells with the following plants or use them in rituals,
Be aware of potential allergic reactions.
Willow Paju Willow is connected with the element of water,
For it often grows in shores close to water areas.
Willow is associated with goddesses,
Femininity,
And the moon.
In Finnish folklore,
Willow is also connected with the other world.
Willow is associated with vellamo and loviatar.
The tree has an aura of enchantment around it.
Willow is known for its protective powers,
But broken willow branches are seen as symbols of sadness.
In Eastern Finland,
Willow wands were used in fertility spells to drive away evil spirits.
In Northwestern Finland,
There is a tradition of Easter witches.
Children dress up as witches.
They wear colorful dresses and paint freckles on their faces.
These kids go from house to house exchanging decorated willow twigs for money and chocolate.
This tradition arrived from Sweden in the 19th century.
While it is no longer practiced in Sweden,
It remains a custom in Northwestern Finland.
I used to participate in this tradition every year when I was a child.
When exchanging the willow twigs,
The children recite a spell to the recipient,
Wishing them wealth,
Health,
And abundance.
In the coming year,
Willow is believed to hold great power under the full moon.
If a woman was infertile,
She would place willow branches under her bed.
Birch Koivu Birch trees are a favorite among many,
And hold a special significance in Nordic and Slavic cultures.
Birch symbolizes gentleness and sensitivity.
Birch branches were used in fertility spells.
The tree was associated with Ylinen,
The upper world,
And its deities such as Ukko,
The god of thunder,
And Päivätär,
The goddess of the sun.
Additionally,
Birches that grew near shores were linked to Vellamo.
Areas where birches thrived were popular spots for fairies and forest spirits to play.
Tales written on birch bark were considered especially powerful.
For romantic purposes,
Individuals created a sauna bundle from nine birch branches.
People also used birch water for washing themselves.
To make birch water,
Add birch leaves to a jar and fill it with water.
Shake the jar until it foams.
Use the resulting liquid to wash your face,
Hair,
And body.
Superstitions Carrying a birch branch on a Valburgis night was believed to attract the perfect suitor.
Washing one's face with birch sap was thought to erase freckles.
Seeing a birch in a dream brings health and good news.
Sacred day of birch is Friday.
Apple,
Omena Apples have been used to create various kinds of juices,
Ciders,
And wines,
As well as for cooking.
According to folklore,
The spirits of the dead are fond of apples.
During Gekri,
Harvest festival,
It was customary to leave a bowl of apples for the ancestors.
The apple symbolizes eternity and rebirth.
The tree is associated with the elements of earth and water,
As well as beauty,
Love,
And wisdom.
In Finnish folklore,
The apple tree is referred to as the tree of Vellamo.
Mermaids and water spirits enjoy swimming and spending time beneath branches,
Particularly when it grows by riverbanks or lakesides.
The tree is also linked to witchcraft,
As the seeds inside an apple form a pentagram.
Furthermore,
Apples have been used in folk magic for healing and protective rituals.
While apple trees and branches are connected with the underworld or Alinen,
Apples are beneficial for digestion.
And as a fruit,
The apple is well suited for home medicine cabinet.
Consumption of apples is said to even cleanse the skin and alleviate conditions like acne.
Apple juice can help relieve excess stomach acid and assist with gallbladder issues.
Apples have also been used to treat pain and warts.
The affected area was rubbed with an apple half during the waning moon,
After which the harm was either burned or buried into the ground.
For warts,
Apply the juice of a sour or raw apple three times a day.
These methods affect the skin and the skin is likely due to the fruit's acids.
Illnesses or ailments have been visualized out of the body by holding a glass of apple juice or cider in the hands,
Directing the ailment into the glass.
Afterward,
Juice was poured into the ground.
The apple tree in the garden brings good luck and prosperity to the home,
But it brings bad luck to pick the apples from it.
Blossoms,
On the other hand,
Symbolizes freshness,
Virginity,
Innocence,
Youth and birth,
But because of their white color they also suit the dead.
In the UK,
The apple blossoms are said to strengthen the bond between the couple-to-be.
The apple itself symbolizes many things,
Wisdom,
Health,
Feminine beauty and abundance,
But also temptation,
Sensuality and desire.
Apples are associated with maturity,
Aging and death,
As a bruised apple quickly darkens and spoils.
Red apples are linked to love but also to death due to their blood-red color.
Green apples represent wealth and fertility,
While yellow apples symbolize fame and happiness.
The apple can,
Therefore,
Be used magically for nearly everything,
Seeing apples in a tree foretells well-being,
Longevity and fertility,
And many children.
Linden In Finland,
The only linden tree that grows wild is the forest linden,
Known scientifically as tiljakordaata.
Various hybrid cultivars,
Such as the park linden,
Can also be found in parks and green spaces.
Forest linden is also referred to by its older name,
Niinipuu.
The linden tree is known for being soft,
Lightweight and easy to split.
Niini Historically,
Linden wood was used to make items such as shoe soles and prosthetic feet.
The fibers from the niinipuu were utilized to create materials like braids,
Ropes,
Baskets and mats.
Linden tree blooms in July and August,
Producing flowers that exude nectar and emit a sweet fragrance,
Which attracts pollinators.
During the blooming period,
The asphalt beneath linden trees in urban areas often becomes sticky from the nectar released by the park lindens.
For centuries,
The shade of the linden tree has been a secret meeting place for lovers.
The linden tree is also associated with love rituals,
Particularly for those wishing to invoke admiration,
The genuineness of love.
A hesitant suitor might pluck a branch of linden flowers to present as a bouquet to their beloved.
Considered a female tree,
The linden was thought to inspire a woman's feelings toward a man,
Thereby encouraging marriage.
If a jealous spouse questioned their partner's fidelity,
The woman could speak the truth under the linden tree,
And the man would trust her.
The linden was thought to reveal any lies.
The linden tree can live up to 800 years and is often associated with long liberty and eternal youth.
Taking a linden bath has rejuvenating effects,
And on midsummer night,
Even older women could appear youthful by wearing a crown of linden branches.
The tree is connected to love,
Peace and healing.
Linden water is also beneficial as a hair rinse,
Particularly for light and red-toned hair.
Linden tea can be incorporated into a detox regimen,
As it soothes the stomach and aids in cleansing the kidneys.
As a valuable addition to a home pharmacy,
Linden tea has a calming effect and is useful for treating anxiety,
Insomnia and stress.
It is mainly consumed in the form of tea,
With linden flower tea being particularly effective for calming nerves,
Making it a great choice before bedtime.
Linden infusions and tinctures were used to treat muscle tension,
Cramps and even vertigo.
Tea made from dried linden bark was also consumed to alleviate conditions such as gout and rheumatic pain.
Externally,
Linden has been used in baths and poultices,
Particularly its roots.
Ointments,
Oils and poultices made from linden bark have been utilized to address burns,
Bruises and abscesses.
Linden baths are beneficial for dry,
Itchy skin,
Rashes and the treatment of psoriasis.
Superstitions In dreams,
A linden tree symbolizes that someone is infatuated with you.
If you touch a linden tree in your dreams,
It suggests that your own infatuation is serious.
For magical purposes,
Linden should be collected in the light of the full moon.
Evil witches detest the scent of linden as it drains their power.
